Swedes replace Harding with one of each sex

The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, headed by the British conductor Daniel Harding for 16 years, has rolled out its succession plan for when he leaves next year to join Santa Cecilia in Rome.

The plan is to have two principal guest conductors – the Latvian Krista Audere, 34, for the chorus and the Russian-born Maxim Emelyanychev, 35, for the orchestra.

Press release below:

Two internationally renowned conductors, Maxim Emelyanychev and Krista Audere, are appointed to the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Swedish Radio Choir respectively as Principal Guest Conductors. This gives them the opportunity to work and develop together with the ensembles over time.

“This is an opportunity for further development and to secure good collaborations for the future. I am convinced that our two new Principal Guest Conductors will contribute new perspectives both in terms of repertoire and the actual music making in the ensembles”, says Staffan Becker, General Manager at the Swedish Radio Concert Hall, Berwaldhallen.

The Swedish Radio Choir’s Principal Guest Conductor will be Krista Audere, born in Latvia in 1989. She won the 2021 Eric Ericson Award, the most prestigious competition for young choral conductors, and has since worked with Europe’s leading choirs, such as the Netherland’s Chamber Choir, the BBC Singers and the Swedish Radio Choir. She will be the first conductor in the Swedish Radio Choir’s history to hold that title.

“The Swedish Radio Choir is the dream job! I have been captivated by their voices since a young age. It feels fantastic to be able to deepen our collaboration after the fine concert project we had during the last season. And it all comes back to the fact that we already clicked during the finals of the Eric Ericson Award 2021”, says Krista Audere.

“Krista Audere is a bearer of tradition who works with new methods. She has a curiosity about new repertoire and comes with great knowledge and experience. This is an opportunity for the Swedish Radio Choir to extend our collaboration with her and create a bond that will benefit both parties. We are very much looking forward to welcoming her back!” says Helene Stureborg, Head of Artistic Planning for the Swedish Radio Choir.

The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra’s new Principal Guest Conductor will be Maxim Emelyanychev, born in Russia in 1988. He has conducted orchestras since the age of 12 and is also a pianist and harpsichordist. Since 2019, he has been Music Director of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He holds the same position with renowned period orchestra Il Pomo d’Oro, which made a critically acclaimed performance during this year’s Baltic Sea Festival. He has recently worked with several prestigious orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Maxim Emelyanychev specialized in early music from a young age, often leading the orchestra as a soloist from the piano or harpsichord, but also has a wide symphonic repertoire. He now takes over the role of Principal Guest Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra from Klaus Mäkelä, one of the world’s most in-demand conductors.

“The quality of the musicians in the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra is incredible! I am very much looking forward to developing our relationship,” says Maxim Emelyanychev.

“Maxim Emelyanychev is a young, highly sought-after, and unique conductor who will take the orchestra on a stylistic adventure. His background will hopefully lead to a brand new repertoire reaching the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra”, says Matthieu Lescure, Head of Artistic Planning for the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Daniel Harding’s contract as Music Director of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra extends to 2025 and Kaspars Putniņš for the Swedish Radio Choir until at least 2026. Both Krista Audere and Maxim Emelyanychev will take up their new positions in 2025, the same year that the Swedish Radio Broadcasting Corporation and the Swedish Radio Choir both celebrate their 100th anniversary.